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AT THE last count, Alison Nichol and her husband Steve had fostered 68 children and young people – and look unlikely to stop any time soon.

The Ayrshire couple’s incredible record caring for vulnerable children in need of a safe place to stay is simply driven by a passion to help.

Alison said: “It’s been fantastic. Just to see the changes in the children is amazing – to watch them become confident, talented young people.

“Even the small milestones can be really significant – something that might seem tiny to somebody else.

“You get children who can’t sit at tables and after a while they can. They can eat a meal and that’s a big achievement. It gives you a great feeling of pride.”

Alison, 48, and Steve, 47, began fostering 13 years ago with an agency, then switched at the end of 2013 to become carers with Families for Children.

The service is run by Glasgow City Council, which, as Scotland’s biggest local authority, has the highest number of children in foster care.

The couple accept children of all ages into their home for days, months and, in some cases, years. They are supported in their work by Families for Children, who want more big-hearted Scots like Alison and Steve to come forward.

One baby touched the couple’s hearts so much in the early days that they eventually adopted her and she is now their much-beloved daughter Erin, 11.

Alison previously worked as a nanny before deciding to bring her skills and experience with children to become a foster carer.

When redundancies at Steve’s work were proposed, he decided to leave his job as a furniture store manager and become a full-time carer, too.

Alison said: “We had the space and felt we could offer the children a lot.

“When Steve became a carer, too, it meant we had the flexibility to enjoy family life together.”

As well as Erin, at the moment they have four other children in their home, including a 20-year-old for whom they act as supported carers because she is over 16. She came to them at just 13 for respite and asked to stay.

Steve and Alison have been providing foster care for 13 years

Then there is the 15-year-old who is in permanent foster care with them.

Alison said: “She had been moved from placement to placement and changed schools so many times. After a week, it was like, ‘Oh, this is a challenge.’

"Now she is just fantastic. A young person who has just got good exam results, is doing her Highers and wants to go into mental health nursing.”

Two little boys offer Alison and Steve a different kind of challenge that means working round factors that include a special diet and religion.

The picture Alison paints is not one you would normally associate with carers – her life seems colourful, interesting and full of rewards.

But she admits there have been children who have not worked out.

While some youngsters just come for respite or because their parents are ill, there are others who have been victims of abuse or neglect or their parents are in prison or are addicts.

She said: “We've had drug-addicted babies. It can be very hard to listen to a baby crying because they are in such pain.”

But these children are few and far between and, come Christmas, Alison’s mantelpiece is always packed with cards from all her children.

The couple set boundaries early on for youngsters who come into their home. Alison said: “You can make the mistake of thinking ‘poor souls’ but children like boundaries.

“You need to be strict but you also need to be fun, patient and need to listen.

“You have to understand them and be able to advocate for them because they are not always confident in meetings, particularly if their parents are there and they want to say something.”

If there is one piece of advice Alison would offer to would-be foster carers, it is to be committed.

She added: “You can’t love every child but you can stick by them 100 per cent and support them.”

If you're interested in finding out more about fostering or adopting with Glasgow Families for Children, visit www.fosterglasgow.org or call 0345 276 5555.